 |
| Livestrong Ride 2004 |
Tomorrow - May 18 - is Bike to Work Day!!!
It's time to get back on the road!
Showing posts with label bike commuting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bike commuting. Show all posts
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Monday, January 10, 2011
Been Thinking...
I know it's January 10...but I have been thinking of bike commuting. Not that I would bike commute now, during the dark morning and evenings of winter, but looking out the window here at work and seeing blue skies just makes me want to ride to work.
I've also been thinking about Time Trialing. And Running. And Swimming...and triathlons.
I don't think that Spring will be here soon enough!
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Going by BIKE
Thursday, October 22, 2009
It's Definitely Fall
Fall is definitely here. My bike commuting opportunities are becoming less frequent each week...stupid loser rain. I think the last time I rode to work was a couple of weeks ago. I am hopeful though, all I need is a dry morning and I'm good to go! Now, if the fog would just go away I think I would feel better about being on the road in the early morning hours.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
DEA featured in the UK's Financial Times...
DEA is very cool indeed...
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c5eec898-ac5d-11de-a754-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
Thursday, April 02, 2009
April Showers...
Haven't been up to a whole lot, as you can see by my blog...not many posts! I'm itchin' to ride and keep watching the weather...rain rain and MORE RAIN! All I want to do is ride to work. The days that are good are not good because I have appointments scheduled and the other days have just been way too wet. Oh well...this is the Pacific Northwest and this is what the weather is supposed to be like. A little less would be good, but that IS too much to ask for! Although the KOIN 7 day forecast shows a good weekend - I like this forecast the best so far!
Saturday, March 07, 2009
bike commuting
Yesterday I finally mustered up enough motivation to pack the dreaded backpack and rode to work for the first time this year. I had forgotten how much I have to schlep to work with me - it's still fairly chilly and I look forward to when things warm up and I can pack clothes that are not as bulky like skirts and easy breezy tops. Had a good ride though and coming home was the best - flying down Hazel Dell Avenue and then climbing the hill into Salmon Creek on Hwy 99...pretty fun! My average was pretty good for a first bike commute home of the year too 15mph...things can only get better!
Here's to another season of bike commuting!
Here's to another season of bike commuting!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
critters
I don't think that you have lived until you run over a not so large furry animal while riding your bike! A couple of years ago I had decided to try running over a young raccoon. Check out my post from then. I don't recommend running over raccoons while riding a bike.
Fast forward to yesterday morning. Tom was in the first few miles of his 20 mile commute into work yesterday and as he approached 99th Street on Lakeshore Avenue he spotted a critter in the road...he didn't have the time to swerve to miss it so he simply unweighted the rear of the bike and not really bunny hopped over the RACCOON. Which, like the one I hit, survived. He was able to stay upright, which was not an option during my encounter.
When you spot a critter on the road/trail there sometimes is not enough time to decide how to handle the fast approaching situation. I opted for flying over my handlebars...not good bike handling skills. Tom at least kind of skimmed over the raccoon. Either way, critters and bikes do not mix.
I think we'll start the "I HIT A RACCOON CLUB" now.
Fast forward to yesterday morning. Tom was in the first few miles of his 20 mile commute into work yesterday and as he approached 99th Street on Lakeshore Avenue he spotted a critter in the road...he didn't have the time to swerve to miss it so he simply unweighted the rear of the bike and not really bunny hopped over the RACCOON. Which, like the one I hit, survived. He was able to stay upright, which was not an option during my encounter.
When you spot a critter on the road/trail there sometimes is not enough time to decide how to handle the fast approaching situation. I opted for flying over my handlebars...not good bike handling skills. Tom at least kind of skimmed over the raccoon. Either way, critters and bikes do not mix.
I think we'll start the "I HIT A RACCOON CLUB" now.
Monday, October 20, 2008
7 day weather
Probably my next favorite thing to do besides riding my bike is constantly checking the weather. It must be an obsessive thing because all I usually think about is when I can ride.So this is the forecast for this week according to KOIN 6 News...there seem to be enough dry days for me to bike commute this week. Not today though - Monday is ALWAYS my day off and I also have a dental appointment - BOOOOO. I have another appointment Wednesday, but tomorrow, Thursday & Friday will work out fine. Clouds are not that bad after all.
Friday, October 17, 2008
The movement of vehicles thru an area or along a route...
This book came for me at work yesterday...
Since we live a cool 15-20 minutes from my work, I really don't experience what can pass as TRAFFIC on a daily basis. Especially since I spent the majority of the summer bike commuting...my bike view of traffic is a lot different. Overall, driving is not my favorite activity, I just see it as a necessary means to get someplace in the least amount of time, if at all possible.
Commuting by bike is so great because I will generally take a least driven route to get past the mess at the I-5 and I-205 @ 134th Street interchange. With the opening of the new bridge over Salmon Creek my route doesn't even pass thru the I-5/I-205 area anymore. During my bike travels I have discovered that motorists are not necessarily happy drivers or that good either or too cautious. There have been too many instances of people speeding up to get past me just to jam on the brakes to make a turn somewhere OR others that drive very slowly behind me until I get past where they want to go or the driver behind them becomes very impatient. Both practices that I hate equally. Just drive your car - that's all I can say. Yes, cars move faster depending on the driver so please people, just drive as you were taught in Driver's Education. What is it that makes people drive so differently, while seemingly "obeying" the same traffic laws? In my world, a red light equals STOP...not "oop, I can still make it since it was yellow when I saw it 5 blocks back..."
Anyway, when driving thru Salmon Creek and all the lights between the two interstates can get hairy at times and from point to point the distance between the onramp to I-5 and the offramp from I-205 is less than half a mile and there are 6 traffic lights from point to point which gives opportunity for motorists to make all sorts of interesting moves while driving. The big green signes over the intersections give plenty of warning if you don't really know where you are going.
Okay, so I am a little driving nazi, I really do not enjoy driving that much. I tend to plan my route ahead of time, leave WAY before I need to and try to enjoy the trip, but really, who enjoys driving? Two out of three isn't bad I guess.
How did I find this book? In a very unlikely place actually, Bicycling magazine! The new Editor in Chief included this in her letter as a recommended read for anyone who rides a bike. I am still working my way thru the Prologue, but I am already enjoying what I read. Should be interesting!
Friday, August 08, 2008
Chase or be chased...
It isn't very often that I see another bike commuter on my way to work - that is, one that is going in the same direction/route that I am. A couple of months ago there were two other people ahead of me commuting to work (I can only hope) and that was it until today. I have gotten used to being one of the very few people on the road at the time that I head to work.
So this morning as I crossed over Hwy 99 on 117th Street I spied another cyclist ahead of me. I thought for sure that they would be going onto the Salmon Creek Trail at KlineLine, but they continued on. Dang it! My first thought was that I would just keep a respectful distance and stay behind.
NOPE - not gonna happen.
Well, now I figure out that I am riding just slightly faster than they are and quickly approaching them on the road. This guy was being downright leisurely and that was almost rude. I didn't want to appear as I was drafting off him going up to Hazel Dell Avenue, but I also didn't want to lag behind. So as I passed him I greeted him and kept going. At this point I think I continued with my pace, but it's hard to tell when you have just passed someone and you don't want to be passed in return.
Things started to get annoying after that - I ended up having to stop at every light after Hwy 99 - which stinks as I had some momentum because I wanted to keep slowpoke behind me - and stopping would allow him to make up some ground on me. The first light I had to stop at was the light at the "new" intersection of 117th/119th Street & Hazel Dell Avenue which was surprising because I almost never have to stop at that one and at that point I had worked so hard to get there (it's a grind all the way to 99th Street). Then a stop at 99th Street and a quick check in my mirror and I could see his blinking light getting closer and closer. Man it's a good thing I can clip in really quick when I need to! Then again at the stupid loser light at 94th Street. He never caught me and I wasn't going to let him.
So, in the end what I thought would be a nice relaxing quick ride to work ended up being a lot of work!
I'm really not competetive.
So this morning as I crossed over Hwy 99 on 117th Street I spied another cyclist ahead of me. I thought for sure that they would be going onto the Salmon Creek Trail at KlineLine, but they continued on. Dang it! My first thought was that I would just keep a respectful distance and stay behind.
NOPE - not gonna happen.
Well, now I figure out that I am riding just slightly faster than they are and quickly approaching them on the road. This guy was being downright leisurely and that was almost rude. I didn't want to appear as I was drafting off him going up to Hazel Dell Avenue, but I also didn't want to lag behind. So as I passed him I greeted him and kept going. At this point I think I continued with my pace, but it's hard to tell when you have just passed someone and you don't want to be passed in return.
Things started to get annoying after that - I ended up having to stop at every light after Hwy 99 - which stinks as I had some momentum because I wanted to keep slowpoke behind me - and stopping would allow him to make up some ground on me. The first light I had to stop at was the light at the "new" intersection of 117th/119th Street & Hazel Dell Avenue which was surprising because I almost never have to stop at that one and at that point I had worked so hard to get there (it's a grind all the way to 99th Street). Then a stop at 99th Street and a quick check in my mirror and I could see his blinking light getting closer and closer. Man it's a good thing I can clip in really quick when I need to! Then again at the stupid loser light at 94th Street. He never caught me and I wasn't going to let him.
So, in the end what I thought would be a nice relaxing quick ride to work ended up being a lot of work!
I'm really not competetive.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Bike Commute Week and Going a little Green
GO BY BIKE!
(Well this might be the Bike Gallery's theme this summer, but I'm going to use it!)
What a great week! Except for the fact that Tom was gone and I had to go to work it was a great week. Last weekend we spent a lot of time driving around, in and out of Portland to go to the Velodrome and just other general running errands and all that. With all the gas that we used in my car I decided that this week I would go by bike and leave my car home. Monday is my regular "rest" day from all athletic type activities so I drive every Monday. Although Monday is the day that I go and stock up on lunch type items at work and make sure that I have all that I need so I don't have to bring so much in my backpack so it's a necessary drive day in a way. Tuesday - Friday though, bike all the way!
It's funny how people here at work will talk to me about cycling news that is coming up in the newspapers recently. Most recently the report on how representatives from Portland Police Bureau's traffic division have been parking themselves at key intersections in Portland and targeted cyclists running the stop light and/or the stop signs. Not that I would do that, but there have been occasions that I have merely slowed down (a lot) at a stop sign and then went thru or waited and waited at a red light and decided that waiting was silly and gone on - but things are different here, Clark County doesn't have the numbers of bike commuters as Portland so it's hard to really compare. No matter though, someone on a bike gets hit by a car or hits a car or makes the news and I get to hear about it. Like I can make it stop. I do my part to try and stay safe and I am more than courteous to cars around me. All I can do is try to gain their respect. What other people do, does unfortunately transfer to me and my choice of transportation at times.
Salmon Creek Hill today Alpe d'Huez tomorrow?
Now that my "new" compact crank is all dialed in and I haven't had a problem this week - I'm excited to try some hills instead of the bumps in the road that I have been riding. This morning I decided to go thru Felida on my way to work and the hill was not that bad. I took it slow and steady and didn't stop. I have been kind of dreading going thru Felida to go to work because it isn't as fast and a whole lot steeper than my regular route, even though I made it to work in less time, but it took longer for the distance that I went. Now I understand why the mountain stages in the Tour are broadcast for more than two hours than the flat stages. Going up hill goes slow - for me at least.
Last night I rode to meet Tom at Esther Short Park - instead of taking Main Street all the way to 39th or 33rd I decided to take 45th (another short hill) to Washington and on to Columbia Street to head to the park. It isn't that bad in a car, but on a bike, a little slower. That was a snap too!
I don't know if I'm getting better or if the crank is helping or what, but all of a sudden I'm liking these hills. Of course, Shawn keeps telling me about all the hills in his neck of the woods and thankfully I'm way far away from Yacolt so I don't have to ride them!
GIVING "GREEN" A TRY
When Tom goes out of town and I have been on my bike a lot I tend to come up with some pretty funny ideas. That's what happens when I have no one but the cats to bounce ideas off of. Decaf is always in agreement with me as long as I have a snack for him! These ideas seem perfectly fine to me, but might not appeal to other people. When I think of an idea I am hopeful that Tom will entertain my suggestions to see if they will work. My ideas for going a little more green have been few, but the latest is that I would like to start riding to the Salmon Creek Safeway to do grocery shopping. I have refused to go to that store even though it is only 3.5 miles from our house. That store has always been so frustrating to me, but I would be willing to shop there if I didn't have to drive my car. This plan would take some extra planning at first, but I think we could make it work out. Darn that Planet Green Network!
No matter, I believe that if everyone makes a couple of changes in their everyday life it will make a difference in the long run. Plus, being eco-friendly and riding my bike is good for me too - except for the car exhaust and the people trying to run me off the road!
(Well this might be the Bike Gallery's theme this summer, but I'm going to use it!)
What a great week! Except for the fact that Tom was gone and I had to go to work it was a great week. Last weekend we spent a lot of time driving around, in and out of Portland to go to the Velodrome and just other general running errands and all that. With all the gas that we used in my car I decided that this week I would go by bike and leave my car home. Monday is my regular "rest" day from all athletic type activities so I drive every Monday. Although Monday is the day that I go and stock up on lunch type items at work and make sure that I have all that I need so I don't have to bring so much in my backpack so it's a necessary drive day in a way. Tuesday - Friday though, bike all the way!
It's funny how people here at work will talk to me about cycling news that is coming up in the newspapers recently. Most recently the report on how representatives from Portland Police Bureau's traffic division have been parking themselves at key intersections in Portland and targeted cyclists running the stop light and/or the stop signs. Not that I would do that, but there have been occasions that I have merely slowed down (a lot) at a stop sign and then went thru or waited and waited at a red light and decided that waiting was silly and gone on - but things are different here, Clark County doesn't have the numbers of bike commuters as Portland so it's hard to really compare. No matter though, someone on a bike gets hit by a car or hits a car or makes the news and I get to hear about it. Like I can make it stop. I do my part to try and stay safe and I am more than courteous to cars around me. All I can do is try to gain their respect. What other people do, does unfortunately transfer to me and my choice of transportation at times.
Salmon Creek Hill today Alpe d'Huez tomorrow?
Now that my "new" compact crank is all dialed in and I haven't had a problem this week - I'm excited to try some hills instead of the bumps in the road that I have been riding. This morning I decided to go thru Felida on my way to work and the hill was not that bad. I took it slow and steady and didn't stop. I have been kind of dreading going thru Felida to go to work because it isn't as fast and a whole lot steeper than my regular route, even though I made it to work in less time, but it took longer for the distance that I went. Now I understand why the mountain stages in the Tour are broadcast for more than two hours than the flat stages. Going up hill goes slow - for me at least.
Last night I rode to meet Tom at Esther Short Park - instead of taking Main Street all the way to 39th or 33rd I decided to take 45th (another short hill) to Washington and on to Columbia Street to head to the park. It isn't that bad in a car, but on a bike, a little slower. That was a snap too!
I don't know if I'm getting better or if the crank is helping or what, but all of a sudden I'm liking these hills. Of course, Shawn keeps telling me about all the hills in his neck of the woods and thankfully I'm way far away from Yacolt so I don't have to ride them!
GIVING "GREEN" A TRY
When Tom goes out of town and I have been on my bike a lot I tend to come up with some pretty funny ideas. That's what happens when I have no one but the cats to bounce ideas off of. Decaf is always in agreement with me as long as I have a snack for him! These ideas seem perfectly fine to me, but might not appeal to other people. When I think of an idea I am hopeful that Tom will entertain my suggestions to see if they will work. My ideas for going a little more green have been few, but the latest is that I would like to start riding to the Salmon Creek Safeway to do grocery shopping. I have refused to go to that store even though it is only 3.5 miles from our house. That store has always been so frustrating to me, but I would be willing to shop there if I didn't have to drive my car. This plan would take some extra planning at first, but I think we could make it work out. Darn that Planet Green Network!
No matter, I believe that if everyone makes a couple of changes in their everyday life it will make a difference in the long run. Plus, being eco-friendly and riding my bike is good for me too - except for the car exhaust and the people trying to run me off the road!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Bike Commute Week
I decided that this week I would lay off the running and ride to work Tuesday-Friday.
Today, for my ride home, I decided to go via the Salmon Creek Trail. I should have known better, things were not going that great. Well, it wasn't all bad, but really, there are quite a few people that make me a little crazy.
I REALLY like it when people just DRIVE. Instance, I'm coming down HDA and I'm naturally in the bike lane because that is the right thing to do. At the intersection just past Faith Baptist Church I see a small pick-up wanting to go south and a van that wants to go north - same direction that I am going in. Well, this guy was a total idiot and me not knowing what he might do I was going slower than usual waiting for the ding dong to go past...where I turn off comes quickly after making the turn off Hazel Dell Ave and if I can get thru with no traffic that is a good day! Not today...I should have known.
Going to the trail....people are either blocking the road in their stupid loser car while visiting with a person that is not in the car...on the trail we have all sorts of people just all over the place a mom with several children and absolutely no control. I came up on a couple that happened to be running - they may have been together. It is hard to tell since the dog that was running after the woman and in front of the guy (and they were not close to each other) was on a leash, BUT no one had a grip on the other end. I guess that fulfills the leash law, sort of. Another couple were walking together, but each were on a cell phone - I hope they were not talking to each other, my gosh, they were standing next to each other. In the middle of the trail!
I don't know, I was really questioning this decision up until I actually left work. That probably was my cue to not ride the trail, but I didn't pay attention.
We'll see what the remainder of the week brings....
Today, for my ride home, I decided to go via the Salmon Creek Trail. I should have known better, things were not going that great. Well, it wasn't all bad, but really, there are quite a few people that make me a little crazy.
I REALLY like it when people just DRIVE. Instance, I'm coming down HDA and I'm naturally in the bike lane because that is the right thing to do. At the intersection just past Faith Baptist Church I see a small pick-up wanting to go south and a van that wants to go north - same direction that I am going in. Well, this guy was a total idiot and me not knowing what he might do I was going slower than usual waiting for the ding dong to go past...where I turn off comes quickly after making the turn off Hazel Dell Ave and if I can get thru with no traffic that is a good day! Not today...I should have known.
Going to the trail....people are either blocking the road in their stupid loser car while visiting with a person that is not in the car...on the trail we have all sorts of people just all over the place a mom with several children and absolutely no control. I came up on a couple that happened to be running - they may have been together. It is hard to tell since the dog that was running after the woman and in front of the guy (and they were not close to each other) was on a leash, BUT no one had a grip on the other end. I guess that fulfills the leash law, sort of. Another couple were walking together, but each were on a cell phone - I hope they were not talking to each other, my gosh, they were standing next to each other. In the middle of the trail!
I don't know, I was really questioning this decision up until I actually left work. That probably was my cue to not ride the trail, but I didn't pay attention.
We'll see what the remainder of the week brings....
Friday, June 22, 2007
Alternative Transportation
This year has been different as far as our cycling habits. I have been riding to work more often. The weekends have been hit and miss and I miss riding my early morning Saturday rides, but hope that will change soon.
Tom has been riding to work (yes, to work) once a week. This week he decided to participate in a challenge at his office which is to ride, walk or carpool 6 times in the month of July. He will attempt to ride at least 6 times to work, which would be at least 2 times per week. He says there will be prizes...woo hoo!
So, the next time you see a cyclist on the road, give them some room and think of us!
http://www.bta4bikes.org/
Tom has been riding to work (yes, to work) once a week. This week he decided to participate in a challenge at his office which is to ride, walk or carpool 6 times in the month of July. He will attempt to ride at least 6 times to work, which would be at least 2 times per week. He says there will be prizes...woo hoo!
So, the next time you see a cyclist on the road, give them some room and think of us!
http://www.bta4bikes.org/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)